Of Mice and Men
Theme Essay
Background :
A theme is a reoccurring message or idea in a literary work. We can assume that most authors do not write just for fun, but that there is some message or philosophy that they would like us to learn.
Assignment :
Write a typed double spaced essay on a theme from. Of Mice and Men. You will need to choose a theme, support this theme with specific examples from the book, and find quotes from the book to illustrate why you chose this theme. You will need to go beyond discussing the mere plot of the story to demonstrate how Steinbeck uses one specific theme to convey a message or philosophy that he would like us to learn.
Suggested Themes (choose one of the following, or pick your own)
1. Dreams/The American Dream 2. Loneliness 3. Friendship 4. The Portrayal of Women/Discrimination
Requirements
One to two page essay typed, double spaced, size 12 font.
Cover page stapled to the front of your essay with the theme you chose as your title, your name and
the date.
– Clear introduction, conclusion and body paragraph(s).
In the beginning of your essay, mention the name of the novel, the author’s name, and the theme you are discussing. Remember titles of novels are always underlined or italicized. thn?Or\–0,(\-F
Use quotes and specific examples from the novel to support the theme you choose. Include the page numbers in parenthesis at the end of each quote, for example: “Quote” (23-24).
There is only one draft for this essay. Be sure you have used formal language and have proofread your essay before handing it in to me.
